Extra help if you’re on benefits or your benefits have stopped

If your benefit payments aren't giving you enough to live on, you might be able to get help from your local council or an interest-free loan from the government.

If you're struggling while waiting for your payments to start, you might be able to get your benefit paid early.

Get help from your local council

Your local council might give you vouchers to help pay for day-to-day essentials like:

a hot meal

second-hand furniture

household appliances, for example a cooker

This help is known as 'welfare assistance' and each council runs their own scheme. The help on offer and eligibility varies, so contact your local council and ask if they run a welfare assistance scheme that could help you.

You can usually get help from your local council even if you're not claiming benefits, so it's a good option if your benefits have stopped.

Get a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with your rent

If Housing Benefit or Universal Credit doesn't cover all of your rent and you need more money, you could make a claim for a discretionary housing payment (DHP). A DHP is extra money from your local council to help pay your rent.

You need to claim Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit to get a DHP.

Your local council doesn't have to give you a DHP - it depends on your circumstances.

Get your benefit paid early

If you're struggling while waiting for the first payment of a new benefit you might be able to get a 'short term benefit advance'. This means your benefit will be paid early, with a small amount taken off future payments to pay it back - usually for 12 weeks.

You can also get an advance if your benefit has been increased but you haven't had the new amount yet, or if you've been told you won't be paid on the usual date.You can get a short term advance for all benefits except:

Housing Benefit

Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Child Benefit

Guardian's Allowance

To ask for an advance, contact the DWP office that's dealing with your benefit claim.